AP File PhotoIn this Saturday, May 21, 2011 photo, teachers unions and others gather for the "We Are the People" rally at Michigan's Capitol in Lansing, Mich.

Don't take my word for it. Read the bill. The only schools impacted are those with employees represented by a union with 50,000 or more members. By definition, that is the MEA. The American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, which represents teachers in Detroit Public Schools, doesn't qualify.

Because the hope is that it will be easier for conservative school board members to get elected when there's more than just school issues on the ballot. Another goal is to make it harder for schools to pass millages -- even though schools have few options as the Legislature swiped $1 billion from the School Aid Fund this year and passed new business taxes specifically designed to give schools less money.

Republicans may have the votes to keep beating the MEA and teachers' unions like a drum. But they shouldn't insult our intelligence by claiming that they're just thinking of the children.

Susan J. Demas is a contributing
political columnist who provides opinion and analysis and reports breaking
news on local and national issues from a Michigan perspective.